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General Form of Employment Agreement

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Employment Agreement with Graphic Designer to do Graphic Design and Animation

Employment Agreement between of

referred to herein as Employee, and , a corporation organized and existing under the laws of the state of , with its principal office located at

referred to herein as Employer.

Whereas, Employer is engaged in the business of graphic design, and maintains an office at

and;

Whereas, Employee has been engaged and has had a great deal of experience in the above-designated business; and

Whereas, Employee is willing to be employed by Employer, and Employer is willing to employ Employee, on the terms, covenants, and conditions set forth in this Agreement;

Now, therefore, for and in consideration of the mutual covenants contained in this agreement, and other good and valuable consideration, the receipt and sufficiency of which is hereby acknowledged, the parties agree as follows:

1. Employment

A. Employer employs, engages, and hires Employee as a graphic designer and animator to create graphic animations for the School of the New Spirituality, including writing poems and creating sound. Employee accepts and agrees to such hiring, engagement, and employment, subject to the general supervision and pursuant to the orders, advice, and direction of Employer.

B. Employee shall perform such other duties as are customarily performed by one holding such position in other, same, or similar businesses or enterprises as that engaged in by Employer, and shall also additionally render such other and unrelated services and duties as may be assigned to him from time to time by Employer.

2. Best Efforts of Employee

Employee agrees that he will at all times faithfully, industriously, and to the best of his ability, experience, and talents, perform all of the duties that may be required of and from him pursuant to the express and implicit terms of this Agreement, to the reasonable satisfaction of Employer. Such duties shall be rendered at

and at such other place or places as Employer shall in good faith require or as the interest, needs, business, or opportunity of Employer shall require.

3. Term of Employment

The term of this Agreement shall be a period of years, commencing on , and terminating on , subject, however, to prior termination as provided in this Agreement. At the expiration date of , this Agreement shall be considered renewed for regular periods of one year, provided neither party submits a notice of termination.

4. Compensation of Employee

Employer shall pay Employee, and Employee shall accept from Employer, in full payment for Employee's services under this Agreement, compensation at the rate of $ per year, payable twice a month on the 15th and 30th of each month while this Agreement shall be in force. Employer shall reimburse Employee for all necessary expenses incurred by Employee while traveling pursuant to Employer's directions.

5. Termination due to Discontinuance of Business

In spite of anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, if Employer shall discontinue operating its business at

then this Agreement shall terminate as of the last day of the month in which Employer ceases operations at such location with the same force and effect as if such last day of the month were originally set as the termination date of this Agreement.

6. Other Employment

Employee shall devote all of his time, attention, knowledge, and skills solely to the business and interest of Employer, and Employer shall be entitled to all of the benefits, profits, or other issues arising from or incident to all work, services, and advice of Employee, and Employee shall not, during the term of this Agreement, be interested directly or indirectly, in any manner, as partner, officer, director, shareholder, advisor, Employee, or in any other capacity in any other business similar to Employer's business or any allied trade.

7. Confidentiality and Nondisclosure

Employee agrees both that all information and materials furnished from the Employer concerning this Agreement and the performance of it is confidential and may not be used for any purpose other than in connection with this Agreement.

8. Employee’s Inability to Contract for Employer

In spite of anything contained in this Agreement to the contrary, Employee shall not have the right to make any contracts or commitments for or on behalf of Employer without first obtaining the express written consent of Employer.

9. Termination

A. This Agreement may be terminated with or without cause by either party on days' written notice to the other. If Employer shall so terminate this Agreement, Employee shall be entitled to compensation for days.

B. In the event of any violation by Employee of any of the terms of this Agreement, Employer may terminate employment without notice and with compensation to Employee only to the date of such termination.

C. It is further agreed that any breach or evasion of any of the terms of this Agreement by either party will result in immediate and irreparable injury to the other party and will authorize recourse to injunction and or specific performance as well as to all other legal or equitable remedies to which such injured party may be entitled under this Agreement.

10. Termination for Disability

A. In spite of anything in this Agreement to the contrary, Employer has the option to terminate this Agreement if Employee shall, during the term of this Agreement, become permanently disabled as the term permanently disabled is fixed and defined in this Section. Such option shall be exercised by Employer giving notice to Employee by registered mail, addressed to him in care of Employer at the above address of Employer or at such other address as Employee shall designate in writing of Employer's intention to terminate this Agreement on the last day of the month during which such notice is mailed. On the giving of such notice, this Agreement shall cease on the last day of the month in which the notice is so mailed, with the same force and effect as if such last day of the month were the date originally set forth in this Agreement as the termination date of this Agreement.

B. For the purposes of this Agreement, Employee shall be deemed to have become permanently disabled, if, during any year of the term of this Agreement, because of ill health, physical or mental disability or for other causes beyond Employee's control he shall have been continuously unable or unwilling or shall have failed to perform his duties under this Agreement for consecutive days, or if, during any year of the term of this Agreement, Employee shall have been unable or unwilling or shall have failed to perform [his/her] duties for a total period of days, irrespective of whether or not such days are consecutive. For the purposes of this Agreement, the term any year of the term of this Agreement is defined to mean any 12-calendar-months period commencing on , and terminating on , during the term of this Agreement.

11. No Waiver

The failure of either party to this Agreement to insist upon the performance of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, or the waiver of any breach of any of the terms and conditions of this Agreement, shall not be construed as subsequently waiving any such terms and conditions, but the same shall continue and remain in full force and effect as if no such forbearance or waiver had occurred.

12. Governing Law

This Agreement shall be governed by, construed, and enforced in accordance with the laws of the State of .

13. Notices

Any notice provided for or concerning this Agreement shall be in writing and shall be deemed sufficiently given when sent by certified or registered mail if sent to the respective address of each party as set forth at the beginning of this Agreement.

14. Attorney’s Fees

In the event that any lawsuit is filed in relation to this Agreement, the unsuccessful party in the action shall pay to the successful party, in addition to all the sums that either party may be called on to pay, a reasonable sum for the successful party's attorney fees.

15. Mandatory Arbitration

Any dispute under this Agreement shall be required to be resolved by binding arbitration of the parties hereto. If the parties cannot agree on an arbitrator, each party shall select one arbitrator and both arbitrators shall then select a third. The third arbitrator so selected shall arbitrate said dispute. The arbitration shall be governed by the rules of the American Arbitration Association then in force and effect.

16. Entire Agreement

This Agreement shall constitute the entire agreement between the parties and any prior understanding or representation of any kind preceding the date of this Agreement shall not be binding upon either party except to the extent incorporated in this Agreement.

17. Modification of Agreement

Any modification of this Agreement or additional obligation assumed by either party in connection with this Agreement shall be binding only if placed in writing and signed by each party or an authorized representative of each party.

18. Assignment of Rights

The rights of each party under this Agreement are personal to that party and may not be assigned or transferred to any other person, firm, corporation, or other entity without the prior, express, and written consent of the other party.

19. Counterparts

This Agreement may be executed in any number of counterparts, each of which shall be deemed to be an original, but all of which together shall constitute but one and the same instrument.

20. In this contract, any reference to a party includes that party's heirs, executors, administrators, successors and assigns, singular includes plural and masculine includes feminine.

WITNESS our signatures as of the day and date first above stated.

By:

(Name of Employer)

(Printed name)

(Signature of Employee)

(Signature of Officer)

Enter text✕

What the General Form of Employment Agreement Is

A General Form of Employment Agreement is a standardized written contract that sets the terms of the employer-employee relationship, including duties, compensation, term, benefits, confidentiality, and termination provisions. It provides a clear baseline for onboarding, reduces ambiguity about obligations, and creates a record for compliance, payroll, and benefits administration while remaining adaptable to full-time, part-time, or at-will arrangements.

Why a Clear Employment Agreement Matters

A well-drafted General Form of Employment Agreement minimizes disputes, clarifies expectations, and documents legally relevant terms that affect wages, benefits, and intellectual property. It supports regulatory compliance and provides evidence in audits or disputes without replacing case-specific counsel.

Why a Clear Employment Agreement Matters

Who Typically Prepares and Signs This Agreement

Human resources, hiring managers, and in-house legal teams most often prepare and issue the agreement to new hires.

  • HR teams handling onboarding for multiple hires across locations and shifts.
  • Hiring managers issuing role-specific duties and performance expectations.
  • Employees reviewing compensation, benefits, and confidentiality provisions before starting.

Primary Signers and Their Roles

HR Manager

The HR Manager typically prepares and issues the agreement, ensures required fields are complete, and maintains the signed record. They coordinate benefits enrollment, verify I-9 completion, and retain documents per company retention policy.

New Employee

The new employee reviews and signs the agreement, returns required identity documents for I-9 verification, and accepts terms such as confidentiality, noncompetition (if present), and arbitration clauses where applicable.

Core Sections to Include in a Professional Agreement

A comprehensive General Form of Employment Agreement organizes legal and operational terms into discrete clauses so responsibilities and remedies are easy to find and enforce.

Parties

Identify each party by full legal name and entity type, including employer's registered business name and the employee's legal name to avoid ambiguity and support tax and I-9 requirements.

Duties and Title

Describe position title, primary duties, reporting relationships, and any location or travel expectations. Attach a job description as an exhibit for clarity when needed.

Compensation

Specify base salary or hourly rate, pay frequency, overtime eligibility, bonuses or commissions, and how payroll taxes and benefits are handled.

Term and Termination

State whether employment is at-will or for a fixed term, notice requirements, severance conditions, and cause definitions for termination.

Confidentiality & IP

Include nondisclosure obligations, ownership of work product, invention assignment clauses, and any post-termination restrictions on use of proprietary information.

Dispute Resolution

Set governing law, arbitration versus court selection, and venue for disputes. Clarify whether class actions or collective claims are permitted.

Step-by-Step: Filling Out the Agreement

Complete the agreement in a single review to reduce revision cycles and ensure all cross-references and exhibits match.

  • 01
    Prepare Template: Load the current company template and verify policy clauses.
  • 02
    Enter Parties: Fill employer and employee legal names and addresses.
  • 03
    Specify Terms: Add compensation, duties, term, and benefits details.
  • 04
    Sign and Archive: Obtain signatures, record audit trail, and store securely.

Typical Digital Workflow Settings for Online Completion

Configure authentication, routing order, and retention before sending to reduce friction and compliance risk.

Field Configuration
Authentication Method Email link or SMS passcode; choose stronger authentication for sensitive roles.
Signing Order Sequential for employer then employee, or parallel for high-volume hires.
Required Fields Make signature, date, and full name mandatory to prevent incomplete returns.
Record Retention Enable automatic export to HRIS or secure cloud storage per retention policy.

How Electronic Delivery and Routing Works

Digital workflows send, authenticate, and record the signing process so each step is timestamped and auditable.

  • Upload Document: Sender uploads the agreement to the signing platform.
  • Place Fields: Add name, signature, date, and checkbox fields as required.
  • Send to Signers: Email or SMS links deliver the document to designated signers.
  • Capture Audit Trail: Platform records IP, timestamps, and actions for evidentiary support.

Platform and Integration Considerations

Confirm the eSignature platform supports required compliance and integrates with your HR and document systems.

  • Authentication: Email, SMS, or advanced methods depending on sensitivity.
  • Integrations: Connectors for HRIS, payroll, and document storage reduce manual entry.
  • Audit Trails: Immutable logs and exportable certificates are essential for disputes.

Security and Compliance Features to Expect

In transit: TLS 1.2/1.3 encryption
At rest: AES-256 encryption
Audit Trail: Time-stamped activity log
Regulatory: ESIGN and UETA compliance
Certifications: SOC 2 Type II, ISO 27001
Health Data: HIPAA available with BAA

Penalties and Risks of an Incorrect Agreement

Missing Signatures: Agreement may be unenforceable
I-9 Errors: Civil fines per DHS
Wrong Classification: Wage and hour liability
Incorrect Dates: Claims of retroactive obligations
Ambiguous Terms: Contract disputes and litigation
Noncompliance: Regulatory penalties and audits

Common Preparation Mistakes to Avoid

  • Using outdated template language that conflicts with current state law or company policy, creating enforceability issues and litigation risk.
  • Leaving optional fields blank without clear defaults, which can create ambiguity about compensation or benefits entitlements later.
  • Failing to match names and tax IDs across W-4, payroll, and the agreement, which can trigger backup withholding or payroll errors.
  • Not clarifying at-will status or termination procedures, increasing the likelihood of wrongful termination claims.

Key Deadlines and Timing to Observe

Certain forms and actions must occur promptly around hire date; missing these can create legal exposure or payroll complications.

Sign Before Start:

Obtain executed agreement before or on the employee's first day where possible.

I-9 Completion:

Complete I-9 within three business days of hire (document inspection deadline).

W-4 on Hire:

Employee should submit Form W-4 at onboarding for correct tax withholding.

Benefits Enrollment:

Meet the insurer or plan window, often 30 days from hire.

W-2 Reporting:

Employers provide W-2 to employees by Jan 31 each year.

Typical Milestones from Offer to Archival

Track critical milestones from offer issuance through archival to maintain compliance and auditable records.

01

Offer Issued

Offer letter and employment agreement sent to candidate for review.

02

Offer Accepted

Employee signs agreement and returns required documents.

03

Onboarding Complete

I-9, W-4, benefits enrollment, and IT provisioning finished.

04

Contract Archived

Signed agreement stored in HR system and backup archive.

eSignature Vendor Pricing and Feature Comparison

Compare vendor starting prices and core capabilities for signing and distribution. signNow is listed first per platform comparison practice.

signNow DocuSign Adobe Sign PandaDoc HelloSign
Starting Price $8/user/mo $15/user/mo $14/user/mo $19/user/mo $15/user/mo
Free Trial 7-day trial Varies (trial available) Varies (trial available) Varies (trial available) Varies (trial available)
Bulk Send Yes Yes Yes Yes Varies by plan
Audit Trail Yes Yes Yes Yes Yes
HIPAA Compliant Yes Yes Yes Varies Varies
Envelope Cap No cap 100 envelopes/user/year Varies by plan Varies by plan Varies by plan

Real-World Examples of Using the Agreement

These examples show how organizations use a General Form of Employment Agreement to streamline hiring and compliance.

Optica Ventures — COO

Intro: Optica Ventures standardized its offer and agreement templates to reduce negotiation time.

  • Point: Template clarity reduced back-and-forth.
  • Outro: Brian Fitzgibbons, COO, said the interface is simple and easy-to-use for the team and customers, improving turnaround on signed agreements while preserving compliance and recordkeeping.

Martin Properties — Founder

Intro: A small real estate firm moved signing online for seasonal hires.

  • Point: Mobile signing enabled remote execution.
  • Outro: Tim Martin, Founder, reported processing and executing documents online with full compliance and security, enabling faster onboarding whether on mobile or offline and reducing time spent on paperwork.

Practical Tips for Accurate and Efficient Completion

Adopt consistent templates, validate identity early, and centralize storage to reduce errors and accelerate onboarding.

Use a Single Source Template
Maintain one company-approved template for each role category, update it when laws change, and withdraw deprecated versions to avoid conflicting clauses.
Verify Identity Early
Complete I-9 document inspection within the required timeframe and use secure authentication for remote signers to prevent later disputes.
Require Mandatory Fields
Configure signature, date, and compensation fields as required to prevent incomplete returns and downstream payroll errors.
Archive with Metadata
Store signed agreements with signer email, IP address, and timestamps to create a defensible audit trail for audits and litigation.

Frequently Asked Questions and Troubleshooting

Answers to common questions about enforceability, signatures, notarization, and revisions to the General Form of Employment Agreement.


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